All ready for the Christmas Fair

I love Carrot Cake! I got the coffee brewing!

These are rich fruit cakes - hope you like them! Coffee sounds good!

Did you make these M. They look so professional they'll be gone in seconds at the fair ,very yummy !

They look fantastic.

Thank you. I did make them, and have been doing so for several years. Practice makes perfect! I have learned that presentation is key - it takes time to make the cardboard trays and wrap them (I use roasting bags) but it's worth it. I use a Marguerite Patten recipe, which is large enough to produce six small cakes.

You should be very proud of yourself M. they are perfect and will make lovely gifts :o)

I could just do with one of these for my mums Christmas goodies box.

My goodness, these look great. They will not last long.

Thanks everyone! They are very satisfying to produce. I used to use old food tins, but now I make foil collars and place them on a baking tray lined with non-stick greaseproof paper. The only knack is the timing - I have to be careful they don't overcook. One year I thought they were a bit dry, and I compensated with brandy - I imagine there were a few wobbly parishioners wandering around after tea!

Wish I was coming to your Christmas Fair - then there were 5!
? ? ?

Thanks, Wildrose!

They look handsome and I could have one right now! But you are too far away. They are professional category!

The cakes look fantastic. You are very talented to make them. G O Y Bake off comes to mind.....

Thank you very much, Wells and Lindak. Yes - too far away! And I don't know about that, Lindak!

Really fantastic cakes! :))

Thank you, Karen. We are in Paisley for a couple of days. Daughter is graduating PhD at Glasgow University this afternoon. Feeling quite excited! The weather seems to have abated a little (journey was extremely wet and windy yesterday) so fingers crossed we shan't all arrive looking like drowned rats.

Congratulations! :) its freezing here...iced up again.

Amazingly, the rain held off today in Glasgow, and there was even some sunshine in the afternoon.

Yes, we had sunshine today again as well, which is so much nicer.

Wow they look amazing. My three large cakes are wrapped up in foil and cling film awaiting the booze to be tipped on to them. Must get cracking, but yours look so pretty, well presented and made me want to taste one at least lol. If only I was able to get to that Fair. Shame........ hope they go well for you.

Congratulations on your Daughter's Doc. Won't we be glad when they are all educated. I am starting on the Grandchildren. Maggie and I finished a Thanksgiving Cake that was too Big, but now i get the Fondant bit. Is that ribbon around the cakes? And also Did you make the little decs on top with the tips? I did chase up the recipe. I am mighty impressed with you again.

Thanks, Barbara! I have a couple of others stored away - a no-added sugar one for OH, a larger version of the miniatures for a gift and an "overflow" one in a shallowish loaf tin for Boxing Day.

Thank you, Wells. As a retired teacher, I rather sighed with relief when my (then) youngest relatives - nephews and niece - finally left education, but now it'll be starting again soon with grandchildren! I shan't listen..... yes, I'm afraid I shall!

The tops of the cakes have marzipan and fondant icing on them ( both bought ready made) I piped the coloured decs on top. The sides have greaseproof paper round them, then ribbon. The bases are just cut out from cardboard cartons and covered with foil. They are honestly not very difficult, you just have to work patiently through the stages. And I have been making them for years. But thank you again ?

Sounds good to me, Hb! Cakes, like Christmas trees, should reflect the preferences of their makers! I love cakes with fruit and nuts of them, but have never actually produced one myself. OH now has a "naked" cake, other family members peel off the marzipan and/or icing. I just like it all, and try to eat as little as possible!